Stupid Copper / Stupid Me

[ZeroKoolNYC]

Okay everyone I know I should be tarred and feathered in the Talking Reef village square for this one but here it goes. When I first setup my tank about 6 month ago I had a fish-only tank with aggressive puffers and lionfish and eels oh my. I had an outbreak of Ich when first transporting them from Poughkeepsie, New York to their new home in the Bronx. I used copper and everything went away. Then I decided to get them all new homes because I wanted a reef. I added my little tiny fish and everntually started to house corals. Every coral I have has died, they flourish for about a week to three weeks and then dead even my clams alike. Couldn't tell what I was doing wrong. I do 5 gallon water changes weekly from my 125 gallon tank and it has been about 6 months since I used the copper. I'm gathering that the copper is what is eventually killing my corals from the trace amounts that my still reside within the tank. Does any agree. Why am I such a fool.

[fat walrus]

trace amounts of copper hang around for a long time in rocks, gravel, and sand. try running copper absorbents for an extended amount of time if you cannot start over. don't knock yourself, it is an oversight that will never happen again for you.

[ZeroKoolNYC]

Fat Walrus, do you have any suggestions for copper absorbants so I can have them ordered today.

[fat walrus]

CUPRISORB by SEACHEM.

[fat walrus]

or TOXIC METAL SPONGE by KENT

[Rob]

yep... the copper can even be absorbed into the seals of glass tanks

[fat walrus]

Originally Posted by Rob

yep... the copper can even be absorbed into the seals of glass tanks

if the tank was empty, the copper can be leached out of the sealant by filling the tank with low ph water, or using vinegar or lemon juice.

[CarmieJo]

Originally Posted by fat walrus

if the tank was empty, the copper can be leached out of the sealant by filling the tank with low ph water, or using vinegar or lemon juice.

This is a good piece of knowledge to keep in your back pocket!